Potential-regulator.



j 'TENTEDFMAY-Z8, 1907.

E. LBHR. POTENTIAL REGULATOR-.- APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 20, 1906.

a-s mms snnnw 1.

INYVENTOR WIE'N ESSES AT'TORNE'Y PATEN'IBD MAY 28, m7.

E". LEHR. POTENTIAL REGULATOR. v APPLIOATION El -LED SBITIQO, 1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEETZ INVENTOB WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN LEHR, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PEN N SYLVANIA.

POTENTIAL-REGULATOR.

Patented m as, 1907,.

Application filed September 20, 1906. Serial No. 335,506.

To all 'whcm it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN LEHR, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Wilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in- Potential-Regulators, of which the following is a specification.

- My invention relates to alternating curio rent systems of'electrical distribution, and

has special reference to the potential regulation of'the distributing circuits for such systems. y

The object of my invention is to provide,

1 5 in a system of the aforesaid class, means for effecting a considerable variation in the potential of distributing circuits, that shall be, sim 1e and durable in construction; that "shal effect such regulation in relatively as small, steps and that shall insure a quick transition from one step to the next which is independent'of the action of the attendant.

Transformer regulators, as heretofore con-- Structed, have usually comprised either single regulating windings having a plurality of intermediate ,taps andswitching means whereby the desired number of'turns actively included in the circuit may be varied, or a main transformer winding having relatively o few intermediate taps in connection with a sin le auxiliary winding which is provided wit a relatively large number of intermediate taps and which comprises a number of convolutions substantially equal to one see- 3 5 tion between taps of the main winding.

' With the latter arra ement, a considerable movement of the switc device is required for effecting the suitable changes between the main transformer winding and the aux- 4 iliary winding.

According to m present invention, I provide a maintransfbrmer wind' which may comprise a single section of any esired number of convolutions or may be divided into two or more sections by intermediate taps, andtwo similar auxiliary windings having a relatively large number of intermediate taps which are successively connected in such a manner as to op ose or assist the main wind by means o a suitable switching device,

Y the action of which will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings and to the'detailed description of the inventi'on hereinafter contained? Figure 1 of the drawin s is a front elevatlon, the case being partia lyremoved to disclose the working-parts, of a switching device constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view, with the cover removed, of the device illustrated in Fig. 1, and Figs. 3 and dare diagrammatic views of systems of distribution embodying the regulator of my invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the switching device comprises two rotatably-mounted contact-carrying drums 1 and 2, two sets of stationary engaging fingers 3 and 4 therefor which are respectively mounted on stationary rods 5 and 6 from which they are insulated in a well known manner. The drums 1 and 2 are mounted on substantially parallel shafts 7 and 8 and are actuated from an intermediate shaft 9 by means of two pairs of engaging spur gearsQ A speed ratio of four to one being effected between the operating shaft-8 and the drum 1, while the speed ratio of one to one is effected between the operating shaft and the drum 2. The shaft 9 is driven indirectly by an operating handle 10, which is rigidly attached to a short shaft 11 that is in alineme'nt'withthe operating shaft 9 and to which a release cam 12 is attached. A pair of similar pawls 14 and 15 are pivotally mounted on o posits extremities of a frame 13, which is fiiced to the shaft 9, the pawls being adapted to engage a stationary ratchet ring 16. The pawls 14 and :15 are so arranged as to respectively prevent the rotation of the operating shaft 9 in either direction until they are released by thecam 12 which is moved by the handle 10. The shaft 11 is so connected with the main shaft 9, by a spiral s ring 17, that a motion of the operating hand c 10 in either direction tends to produce rotation of the main shaft, but

rotation of this shaft is not effected until the cam 12 is moved into engagement with the inner extremity of that awl which normally prevents rotation o the shaft in the direction of movement. of the handle. In this way, although the motion of the operating handle is relatively slow, the .motion of the operating shaft is never permitted, until the spiral spring is subjected to'suiiicient tension or compression, to causeJa quick motion of the shaft. As soon as the pawl is disengaged from the cam, it is brought into engage- 'ment withthe next notch on the ratchet ring 16, by means of a spring 18, which connects the inner ends of the pawls. The several notches on theratchet ring 16 are arranged to correspond to the various positions which the drums l and 2 are adapted to occupy.

Thr quick passage of the switching drums from one position to the next is a feature of special advantage, since the possibility of electric arcs being maintained between the contact members of the drums and the stationary engaging fingers is reduced to a minimum. I Referring to Fig. 3, in which the switching drums 1 and 2 are shown as developed into a single plane, alternating current energy may be supplied from any convenient source, such as a two-phase generator 19, through regulating transformers and 20 to translating devices 21, to which it isdesirable to supply energy at voltages which vary relative to those at the generator terminals. Since the regulation of both phases of the two-phase system are identical, only one will be considered. The regulating transformer comprises a primary winding 22 and a secondary winding which is made up of a main section 23 and two similar auxiliary sections 24c and 25. The secondary sections of this transformer may be connected in series with one phase of the generator l9 and in this way the electromotive force applied to the outgoing circuits may be varied.

i hen the operating handle 10 is in its u mu ,I 3.

on position, t hich may be indicated on the top cover of the switching device in the usual manner, the drum 1 occupies a position indicated on the diagram by X, and the drum 2 occupies a position indicated by'26, and operating handle is moved .i7T-0Il6 direction the drum 1 may traverse pr" a to s, inclusive, and the drum .2 at tli time complet s two revol )IIS and traverses the po 'tions 26 to 3 nclusive, twice. As the operating handle moved the opposits direction, the drum 1 traverses positions a to t, lusive, and the control drum 2 passes through the positions to 25, inclusive,twice. v

When the control drum 1 occupies posi tion a; and the drum 2 approaches position 26, circuit connections are first completed from one terminal 36 of the generator through conductor 3?, preventive resistance 38, contact finger 39, contact segments 40 and 41 the drum 2, contact finger 42., contact fin er43 of the drum 1, contact segments 44 an i e5and contact fingers 46 and 47, from which point circuitis continued to the trans lating devices 21. l Vhen the aforesaid position 26 is fully reached by the drum 2, the

' circuit connections just enumerated will be maintained excep thr the contact finger 48 will be in engage; em mth the contact segment 10 and the preventive resistance .38 be thereby shortcircuited. "it will be observed ,sse

that when the above specified circuit conditions obtain the electromotive force applied to the translating devices is the same as that delivrred from the generator. As the control dI'lmS 1 and 2 are respectively moved into the positions a and 27, the preventive resistance 38 is included in the circuit, as before, and then short-circuited. Circuit is then continued from contact finger 51. which is'connected by a conductor 52 to an intermediate tap in a transformer section 25, through a portion of this transformer section and conductor 52to contact finger 42, and from this point the circuit is completed as before. In this way, a few turns of the trans former section 25 are connected in series with the outgoing circuit and are so magnetically interlinked with the primary transformer windin 22 as to cause a small increase inthe electromotive force applied to the translating devices 21', over that which is delivered from the generator 19.

As the drums 1 and 2 respectively occupy positions 0, d and c and positions 254, 29 and 30, transformer 'section25 is gradually ineluded, portionby portion, in series w. .h the line in a manner already explained, and when the drums occupy positions f and 3], respectively, the circuit is completed from contact finger 48, tl'irough contact segments 53 and 55:, contact finger 55 and conductor 56 to one extremity of the transformer section 24;, circuit being continued from this point through the transformer section, conments 59 and 60, contact finger til, conductor 62, transformer section 23, conductor 63, contact finger 64, contact segments and 4-5 to contact finger 46, circuit being completed from this point,-a hereinbefcre indicated. It will be obi TVK I that after trans former section 25 is entirely includedfin the circuit, the main section 23 isconnected in circuit in a similar manner with the section 24 opposed to it. The number oi convolu-- tions included in thetransformer section 23 so compares with the convolutions of the sections 24 and 25, which are similar, to effect only a normal increase in equal. to an. increase efiected b one of the small portions of the section 25, when the aforesaid r. place.

As the control drums respectivi-ily occupy positions g, ,h, i and j and 32, 34 and 35, the transformer section 24, which opposes section 28, is gradually decreased and when the drum 1 occupies position 7c, the drum 2 occupies position 26 and the entire-transformer section 23 is connected in. series with the circuit'and raises the voltage applied to the translating device Without opposition from the other sections. Nhen the drums respectivelyoccupy positions 1, m, a, o and p and 27,,- 28, 29, Eiland 31;, the transformer incl ductorti, contact finger 58, contact seg--' ICIO IIO

section 2.5 is again gradually included in se ries with the line so as to assist the winding 23. And as drum 1 traverses the remainder of its positions in this direction, the drum 2 completes its second revolution and the transformer section 24 is gradually included in the circuit so as to assist the sections 23 and 25.

When this point is reached, themaximum' voltage attainable with the regulator illustrated is effected. i As the drum 1 traverses positions a to t, inclusive, and the drum 2 is rotated throu h two revolutions in the opposite direction, t e transformersection 24 is first gradually included in the circuit in such a manner as to reduce the voltage applied from the generator, the section 23 is next similarly connected in the circuit and the entire transformer section 25 is connected in 0 position to it, then the section 25 is gradual y decreased and removed from the circuit, the section 24--is gradually connected in series with section 23, and finally the section 25 is gradually connected in series with both transformer sections 23 and 24, so that-the minimum voltage is applied to the translatin devices. Since the circuit connections invo ved for the various steps are similar to those already described, I deem it unnecessary toinclude a detailed description thereof.

When a single auxiliary winding has been employedin connection with a main winding for potential regulation, a control drum similar to the drum 2 has often been 'used, but it' is necessary to effect a radical ch e in the circuit connections at the end of eac revolution of the'drum when the auxiliary winding is transferred from one main winding tap to the next. Consequently the mechanical switch mechanism was complicated and a relatively large. arc of drum rotation was taken up at these critical points in tr'aversing a single position.

The mechanism of my present invention is relatively sim le, since one auxiliary may be trans erred while the active con-volu-' mary winding anda divided secondary wind- Ling, the principle "may obviously be applied f *to an auto-transformer or to the primary of a two-winding transformer;

Referring to Fig. 4,-p-aslig'htly modified arrangement is here illustrated which is adapt ed for three phase circuits and in whichjthc increase and decrease of the electromoij ve} forces in the circuit effected by series win shaft.

, I desire that variations in size and arrangement of details which do not depart from the spirit of my invention shall be included in its scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. An alternating current regulator that com rises a main transformer winding, two simi ar auxiliary windings and-a plurality ofintermediate taps in said auxiliary windings. I

' 2. In a transformer regulator, the combination with a main winding, two similar auxiliary windings and a plurality of intermediate taps insaid windings, of means for gradually connecting, in circuit, one auxiliary winding, the main winding and the two auxiliary sections in opposition thereto, the main winding and one auxiliary winding and the main winding and both auxiliary windwhich are slightly fewer in number than those of the main winding, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination with a main transformer winding, of two similar auxiliary windings and a lurality of intermediate taps therefor which divide the auxiliary windings iiito substantiallyequal parts, said main winding containing a number of convolutions equal to the two auxiliary windings plus a single division between the intermediate taps in the latter. -6. The combination with a main transformer winding, and two similar auxiliary s, of means for varying the effective turns t at comprise a regulator having rotatable contact-carrying drums and means for rotating the drums through a plurality of predetermined positions.

7. The combination with a main trans- "formerwinding, and two similar auxiliary wfindin s, of means for varying the effective regulating contacocarrying drums adapted to occupy a plurality of predetermined positions, an operating handle therefor, and'resilient means interposed between thexhandle and the drums.

8. The combination with a main transformer winding, two similar auxiliary Windand a plurality of intermediate taps in' nation with a main winding, two'similar,

auxiliary windings having a plurality of in-. terniediate taps, of sw tching means for gradually varying, between zero and'the 'total number of convolutions of the three windings, the effective turns in steps which are substantially e ua'l to a division of the auxiliary winding comprises a pair of switching drums adapted to occupy a plurality of positions, means for accen-tuating said positions and means for the, next.

10. in a transformer'regulator, the combi-, nation with amamwinding, two similar auxiliary windings having aplurahty of ntermeetween adjacent taps, that diate taps, of switching means for gradually varying the effective turns in steps which are substantially e ual to a division of the auxiliary winding etween adjacent taps, between zero and the total number of convolutions' of the three windings that comprise-a pair of contact-carrying drums adapted to occupy a plurality of predetermined positions, means for accentuating said positions, an operating handle for said drums, a yielding connection between the handle and the drum, and means dependent upon the operating handle. for permitting the rapid transition of the. drums from one position to the next. 11.. In a transformer regulator, the combination with a main winding, a pair of similar auxiliary windings having a relatively large number of intermediate taps, of means for connecting the auxiliary windings with the main winding and for Varying such connec tion to gradually increase or decrease the effective turns of the regulator.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 18th day of September, 1906. efiecting a quick motion from one position to EDWIN LEHR.

Witnesses:

W. E. REED, BIRNEY Hmns. 

